Schatz asks the Defense Department to help people experiencing health issues from Red Hill fuel leaks
Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, sent a letter to the Department of Defense Thursday, saying the agency must provide health care resources to individuals affected by chronic conditions related to drinking fuel-tainted water, including those who are not beneficiaries of the Military Health System, according to a news release.
On Nov. 20, 2021, the Navy spilled fuel at Red Hill, which entered Oahu’s groundwater and impacted 93,000 people using the Navy’s water system.
The letter was addressed to Gilbert Cisneros, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.
In the letter, Schatz also asked for more details on the chemicals that people may have been exposed to and for a long-term health study to gather medical data.
